Non‐Aqueous Synthesis of High‐Purity Metal Oxide Nanopowders Using an Ether Elimination Process

Abstract

A soft-chemistry route to (impurity free) Ta2O5 and HfO2 nanopowders (see Figure) based upon a synthesis protocol that involves the reaction of metal alkoxides with benzyl alcohol is presented. The formation of HfO2 proceeds via an unprecedented ether-elimination process and extends the available non-aqueous reaction methodologies in addition to the well-known ester and alkyl halide eliminations.